The
major (for the BA) in Japanese Studies requires a minimum of 35 credit hours in
the following areas:

For students who begin the major at the
200 level: JAPN 201 &202, JAPN 301 & 302, JAPN 350 & 351, JAPN 397
& 398 (Senior Thesis I and II), and 4 Asian Studies, WLIT or other related
courses as defined below.

For students who begin the major at the
300 level: JAPN 301 & 302, JAPN 350 & 351, 1 directed reading, Senior
Thesis I and II, and 4 Asian Studies, WLIT or other related courses as defined
below.

"Other related courses" could
include courses in Japanese Literature, Film, Theatre, Art History,
Anthropology, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Political Science, and History.
Courses in other disciplines than Japanese form an important component of the
Program. They provide an international, as well as interdisciplinary, perspective
on Japanese culture. A faculty advisor supervises the individual program of
study.

Senior Thesis I and II
(required course, 6 credits)

This
course involves the writing of a substantial research paper in Japanese or
English. Students will be expected to identify their faculty directors and
topics by the end of their junior year. Exceptional papers may be considered
for honors.

Study Abroad

A
year of study abroad in Japan is highly recommended, as is additional study in
another language. All efforts will be made to grant appropriate credit for
courses taken at a Japanese university during a year abroad.

Please
Note:

Normally,
no more than two courses taken for Japanese Studies credit may simultaneously
count toward a minor or toward another major. The courses from other
disciplines may contribute to the completion of the Western Reserve Core.

Minor

For
students beginning Japanese at the introductory level: 101, 102, 201, 202, and
one 300-level course.

For
students beginning Japanese at the 200-level: five courses at the 200- and
300-level approved by the chair of the department.

Honors

To qualify for the BA with honors in
Japanese, the student must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in courses taken for
the Japanese major and write an exceptional senior thesis paper.

Japanese Course
Descriptions

JAPN
101. Elementary Japanese I (4)

(Credit
for JAPN 101 only upon completion of JAPN 102.) Introduction to understanding,
speaking, reading, and writing Japanese. Students learn to read and write
hiragana and katakana syllabaries and 50 kanji characters. Students expected to
achieve control of the sound system and basic structure of the language.
Emphasizes aural comprehension and speaking.

Further
study of fundamental structures of Japanese. Students improve aural
comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing abilities and learn approximately
100 new characters. Prereq: JAPN 102 or equivalent.

JAPN
202. Intermediate Japanese II (4)

Continuation
of JAPN 201. Students learn an additional 100 kanji characters. With the
completionof JAPN 201 - 202, students should
have control of the fundamentals of modern Japanese and a firm foundation in
the writing system. Prereq: JAPN 201 or equivalent.

JAPN/WLIT
225. Japanese Popular Culture (3)

This
course highlights salient aspects of modern Japanese popular culture as
expressed in animation, comics and literature. The works examined include films
by Hayao Miyazaki, writings by Kenji Miyazawa and Banana Yoshimoto, among
others. The course introduces students to essential aspects of modern Japanese
popular culture and sensibility. Cross-listed as WLIT 225.

JAPN/WLIT
245. Classical Japanese Literature in Translation (3)

Readings,
in English translation, of classical Japanese poetry, essays, narratives, and
drama to illustrate essential aspects of Japanese culture and sensibility
before the Meiji Restoration (1868). Lectures explore the sociohistorical
contexts and the character of major literary genres; discussions focus on
interpreting the central images of human value within each period. Japanese
sensibilities compared/contrasted with those of Western and other cultures.
Cross-listed as WLIT 245.

JAPN/WLIT
255. Modern Japanese Literature in Translation (3)

Focus
on the major genres of modern Japanese literature, including poetry, short
story, and novel (shosetsu). No knowledge of Japanese language or
history is assumed. Lectures, readings, and discussions are in English. Films
and slides complement course readings. Cross-listed as WLIT 255.

JAPN
301. Advanced Japanese I (4)

Emphasizes
conversational proficiency and reading. Students must attend the language lab
in addition to class meetings. Prereq: JAPN 202 or equivalent.

JAPN
302. Advanced Japanese II (4)

Continuation
of JAPN 301; emphasizes conversational proficiency and reading. Japanese life
and culture introduced through supplemental materials and activities. Students
must attend the language lab in addition to regular scheduled class meetings.
Prereq: JAPN 301 or equivalent.

JAPN
303. Topics in Japanese I (3)

Students
in this course will work with authentic materials to improve proficiency in
Japanese. Subject matter varies but emphasis is on contemporary culture of
Japan. Prereq: JAPN 302 or equivalent.

JAPN
345. Japanese Women Writers (3)

Contributions
of women writers to the literature of pre-modern and modern Japan;
investigations of how their works exemplify and diverge from “mainstream”
literary practices. Emphasis on the social and cultural contexts of the texts.
Cross-listed as WLIT 345.

JAPN 350.
Contemporary Japanese Texts I (3)

Stress
on development of sophisticated communication skills in Japanese. The students will read and discuss
various texts such as daily conversations, essays, and news scripts with the
assistance of vocabulary and kanji (Chinese character) lists and formal grammar
explanations. Attention also will be given to enhancing the students'
writing and aural/oral proficiencies through regularly assigned homework,
presentations, tape listening, video viewing, and classroom discussion.
Recommended preparation: JAPN 302 or equivalent.

JAPN 351.
Contemporary Japanese Texts II (3)

This
course is a continuation of JAPN 350 and its primary aim overlaps with that of
JAPN 350: to develop more sophisticated communication skills in Japanese.
Students will read and discuss various texts such as daily conversations,
essays, and news scripts largely with the assistance of vocabulary and kanji
(Chinese character) lists. Attention will be given to enhancing the
students' writing and aural/oral proficiencies through regularly assigned
homework, presentations, tape listening, video viewing, and classrooms
discussion.Recommended preparation: JAPN 350
or equivalent.

JAPN/WLIT
355. Modern Japanese Novels and the West (3)

This
course will compare modern Japanese and Western novellas, drama, and
novels. Comparisons will focus on the themes of family, gender and
alienation, which subsume a number of interrelated sub-themes such as marriage,
home, human sexuality, amae (dependence), innocence, experience, death,
God/gods, and nature (the ecosystem). This course
will be counted as a SAGES departmental seminar. Offered as JAPN 355,
WLIT 355.

JAPN
450. Japanese in Cultural Context I (3)

The
primary aim of this graduate course is to develop sophisticated communication
skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in Japanese. The students
will read and discuss various texts in the original, such as essays, news
scripts, and literary works. Classroom instruction and discussion will be
conducted in Japanese. The students also will be required to write a research
paper of 4000-6000 letters/characters (10-15 genkoyoshi pages) in Japanese on a topic related to Japan and the
student's specialty. This course can be counted toward “4 Asian Studies, WLIT
or other related courses” required for the Japanese Studies Major (see the
“Japanese Studies Major” section above).Recommended preparation:
JAPN 351 or equivalent.

JAPN
451. Japanese in Cultural Context II (3)

This
course is a continuation of JAPN 450 and it aims at a further development of
sophisticated communication skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
in Japanese. The students will read and discuss various texts in the
original, such as essays, news scripts, and literary works both classical and
modern. Classroom instruction and discussion will be conducted in
Japanese. The students also will be required to write a research paper of
6000-8000 letters/characters (15-20 genkoyoshi pages) in Japanese on a
topic related to Japan and the student's specialty. This
course can be counted toward “4 Asian Studies, WLIT or other related courses” required for the
Japanese Studies Major (see the “Japanese Studies Major” section above).Recommended preparation: JAPN 450
or equivalent.

JAPN
397. Senior Thesis I (3)

Intensive
study of a literary, linguistic, or cultural topic with a faculty member,
leading to the writing of a research paper in English or Japanese. Limited to
senior majors. Permit required. Prereq: Consent of department.